Background WW1 1914

World War One (WW1) 1914 Timeline
The
assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire,
by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, on 28th June 1914, was the final spark which
ignited long-simmering grievances and rivalries between the powers of Europe
and led to that costly and traumatic conflict known as the Great War, or (after
1939-45) the First World War.
By early
August diplomacy had broken down and the German and Austro-Hungarian empires
were mobilising, opposed by those of Britain, France and Russia. The Central
Powers were later joined by the Ottoman (Turkish) empire, and the Allies by
Italy. Since these great empires extended well beyond the bounds of Europe, the
war at once became truly global.
The
European nations immediately mobilised their massive armies and set in train
their long-prepared operational plans. The German time-table required an
overwhelming attack on France, involving the violation of Belgian neutrality,
before turning to deal with Russia. Although Britain was a naval ‘super-power’,
Germany took little account of her small army.
On 4th
August 1914 Britain declared war on Germany to fulfill treaty obligations to
Belgium, to preserve her own security and to preserve the balance of power in
Europe.British
Expeditionary Force (BEF) 1914
By
European standards the peacetime British Army was very small, but what it
lacked in numbers it made up for in quality. Its Regular soldiers were
long-service professionals, confident in their marksmanship and discipline, and
intensely proud of their Regiments. In comparison with the largely conscript
continental armies, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) of 1914 was indeed ‘a
rapier among scythes’. The original force consisted of seven divisions and
included three Regular battalions of the Regiment:
1st
Battalion (Bn) East Lancashire Regiment – 11th Brigade, 4th Division
2nd
Battalion (Bn) South Lancashire Regiment – 7th Brigade, 3rd Division
1st
Battalion (Bn) Loyal North Lancashire Regiment – 2nd Brigade, 1st Division
On account
of the German Emperor’s sneering dismissal of the BEF as ‘the contemptible
little British Army’ the survivors of that gallant band proudly annexed the
title by which they will be known for all time, the ‘Old Contemptibles’.The Retreat from
MONSMons Within three weeks
of mobilisation the BEF had concentrated on the Franco-Belgian border and was
moving forward, on the left flank of the French armies, to meet the German
advance. Near Mons, on 23rd August 1914, the BEF was struck by the full weight
of the German offensive. The accurate and disciplined fire of the 2nd South
Lancashire's, in front of Frameries, took a heavy toll of the massed German
infantry, but eventually the battalion was ordered to retire. Though outflanked
and outnumbered, the old 82nd withdrew in contact ‘in perfect order as if on
parade’.Le
Cateau
The BEF now fell back to conform with their French allies, the South Lancashire’s
fighting another successful rearguard action at Solesmes. Another stand was
made at Le Cateau on 26th August, where the 1st East Lancashire’s made a
stubborn defence in front of the village of Ligny and the depleted South Lancashire’s
grimly held their position in the centre of the British line, near Caudry,
until both battalions were ordered to break contact and join the general
retirement.
One
soldier, Private Donald Fraser, explained it this way: "one [a man] was
not a soldier unless he had served on the Ypres front." Less than half of
the 160,000 men the BEF sent to France came out of the encounter
unscathed. After November 1914, the British would come to call these
trenches 'the Salient" and would remain as Ypres' guardians for the rest
of the war.
By
Christmas, all hopes that the war would be over had gone and the holiday saw
men of both sides digging themselves into the trenches of the Western Front.

VIC Projects to mark the Commemoration of the start of the Great War.

Bacup Cemetery 2014 - 2015

The Heritage Lottery Commission approved funding for VIC to replace a number of headstones in Bacup Cemetery, there were no WW1 Commenweath War Graves in the cemetery and many of the graves were unmarked, There are 130 marked, unmarked or graves which only mention one of the fallen soldiers of the Great War. The project will ensure that each of the graves has a headstone, and that each of the 130 soldiers will be researched as much as possible.Rossendale Borough Council has approved for VIC to bury a time capsule with records of the project and work produced by the local schools involved.VIC will involve as many of the community groups and schools in this projects

Whitworth Memorial Gardens 2014

The dry stone wall was completed in time for November 2014, there is still some residual work to be done to tidy the area, and this will be carried out by VIC and Whitworth Council. VIC would particuarly like to thank Lancashire Community Pay Team Leader Paul Blezard and his teams. A plaque has been inserted into the wall to show those who helped to build it.

Project background

VIC were awarded some funding last year to rebuild a dry stone at the Whitworth Memorial Gardens. The project involves rebuilding the existing dry stone wall, land scape the area around the section of the wall. Starting in April VIC members and some staff form Lancashire Probation Pay Back Team are undertaking some training in dry stone walling. We approached Lancashire Probation and the local community in Whitworth to get involved, Lancashire Community Pay Back members are helping with this project.

Willow structure of WW1 tank 2014

VIC were awarded some funding to structure of a WW1 tank modelled out of Willow, this will be a living structure at Heally Dell on the border of Rochdale and Whitworth.